What is an autoimmune disorder?

Question: What is an autoimmune disorder?

Answer: Autoimmune disorders are conditions that occur when the body’s immune system (the body’s natural processes for attacking infections) attacks something harmless and natural in the body like its own cells or tissues. In the case of vitiligo, the immune system attacks melanocytes, the cells that control the color of skin, mucous, hair, and eyes. Vitiligo is just one of over 80 types of autoimmune disorders.

Most autoimmune disorders do not have a known cause or a known cure. Doctors can help patients control and reduce systems. Other autoimmune disorders you may have heard of are rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, and type 1 diabetes.